Page 23 of Runaway Bride and Prejudice

I actually prefer thinking about this situation as something active I did—running away—than the passive idea of me being a jilted bride.

“How are things? I wanted to call my dad but thought I’d check in with you first to see how things are.”

Morgan whistles. “You missed quite a show.”

“What kind of show?” I glance at Van, then say, “Hang on. Putting you on speaker. What happened?”

“Basically, a team of hot hockey players in suits stormed into the bride’s room, pulled your dad off Uncle Bobby, then proceeded to both cause chaos and also create order. They booted Bobby, Becky, and Drew right out of the church, then one of them—the pretty one?—”

Van snorts. “That would be Alec.”

“Yeah, him. Alec went and made an announcement in the church about it. He’s very professional and well-spoken in addition to being pretty. Then the woman who runs all the social media stuff?—”

“Parker,” Van supplies.

“Yeah—Parker. She helped your dad deal with all the aftermath. Basically, the team saved the day. It was awesome. Your dad is loved.”

My dad is loved. Right. That’s why they were helping, not because they know or care aboutme.

Dad is also probably the reason Van is still driving aimlessly through the darkness. Not because ofme.

That thought makes me a little sad, and so I push it away. I’ve got enough sad for a few dozen Amelias.

In the grand scheme of things, Van being here for my dad—not me—shouldn’t even be on a top ten list of terrible things to be upset about today. And yet it’s this I fixate on, my thoughts circling around and around it like a dirty drain.

“So, you think I should call him?” I ask.

“Honestly,” Morgan says slowly, “I wouldn’t right now. I mean text him you’re okay, and I can tell him in person. But he’s still breaking stuff.”

“My dad is breaking stuff?”

“Like a toddler hopped up on juice boxes being told it’s time to leave Chuck E. Cheese.” She pauses. “He threw a chair through a window.”

“Of thechurch?”

“Of the church. At least it wasn’t stained glass,” Morgan adds. “It’ll cost less to replace. Is this kind of thing covered when you book a wedding?”

“Doubtful,” I say. “I still can’t believe this. I’ve never even seen him get that mad coming home after losing a game.”

“He does get mad,” Van says. “But he’s never thrown a chair through a window. I think this situation warrants it.”

“Take me off speaker for a sec,” Morgan says, and I comply, putting the phone back up to my ear.

“Just me now. What is it?”

“I have an idea,” Morgan says. “I just want you to think about it before you say no.”

“Your caveat already makes me want to say no.”

She ignores this. “You’ve got the reservations all set up for the honeymoon, right?”

“Ugh, don’t remind me. More money lost.” Drew and I split it half and half. He did most of the planning for our Florida trip, and then we traded off paying for reservations. Dollar signs dance like sugar plums through my head and leave me a little lightheaded.

“You should go,” Morgan says.

I almost drop the phone. “What?” Ihiss.I glance over at Van, who’s trying very hard to pretend like he’s not listening. And failing.

“I would go with you, but you know how my work is this time of year.”

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